Collapsible bag with a v-shaped zipper

ABSTRACT

An invention is a collapsible bag such as a duffel bag, that can be folded between its end walls. The bag is equipped with a zipper that is fixed to the side of the bag and radiates in a V-shape toward the ends of the bag. As the zipper is closed, it brings together the ends of the bag. Optionally, the zipper continues to run around the perimeter of the end walls of the bag so that the end walls form an enclosure containing the body of the bag.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of soft luggage, specifically, collapsible soft bags, such as duffel bags, school bags, utility bags and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Collapsible and expandable luggage is well known in the art. Even rigid-frame luggage, such as a popular wheeled suitcase with an extendable handle, often has an advantage of an expandable section. U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,078 is an example of a design where a soft expandable section is inserted between the portions of the rigid frame. A connecting means, usually a zipper, brings together the rigid portions and the soft portion is stored between them, when not in use. Another example of an expandable bag is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,792. That example is a school bag, expandable by adding separate compartments. Each compartment has a track of a zipper, running along its perimeter. To attach the next compartment, one must connect the zipper tracks on the adjacent compartments.

The above examples illustrate the main limitations of the prior art. In the case of the multi-compartment school bag, the added volume is not limited: one may zip as many additional compartments as needed. However, one needs to connect separated tracks of a zipper. With use, zippers are known to become stretched, bent and otherwise distorted. As these changes occur, it becomes more and more difficult to properly align the ends of the zipper tracks in order to form a functional zipper stop. With a slight misalignment, a zipper cannot properly close, the tracks become separated and further damaged.

The expandable rigid-frame luggage has a different problem: in the '078 patent, the zipper stop is fixed to ensure smooth functioning. In other words, the ends of the zipper never become separated and the user never has to struggle trying to bring together the ends of the zipper and “start” it. However, a fixed zipper offers only a limited expansion of the volume of the bag. Usually, the zipper is made slightly longer than the perimeter of the rigid portion of the frame that it encircles. As a result, the rigid portions may be pushed apart by the distance no more than the extra length of the zipper, usually only a few inches.

An ingenious solution to these two problems is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,598 where a suitcase also involves a zipper joining the portions of the rigid frame with a soft expandable portion between them. The zipper remains fixed to the rigid frame and its ends are never separated. However, once the zipper is opened, only the top portion of the frame moves away from the main body of the trunk. The bottom portions, where the zipper stop is located, remain joined. As a result, the trunk expands in a book-like fashion. While this design eliminates the zipper problem, it offers only a limited expansion of the trunk capacity.

Soft luggage, such as duffel bags, school bags, tote bags, utility bags and the like can easily be folded and brought along as spare luggage pieces. These items are often designed so that they can be compacted into small pieces. For example, the body of an elongated duffel bag can be folded between the bag's end walls. If a zipper is running along the perimeters of the end walls, the folded bad can be zipped up into a compact flat object.

Unfortunately, the popular design of the collapsible duffel bag suffers from the inconvenience of the separated zipper. Since the tracks of the zipper are on the opposite end walls, they must be disengaged when the bag is unfolded. Each time the bag is collapsed, one must bring together and align the tracks of the zipper in order to form a zipper stop. It is inevitable that the load of the bag will inflict uneven damage, such as stretch and bend on the zipper tracks located on the opposite walls of the bag. As a result, the zipper becomes progressively more difficult to align.

It would therefore be desirable to have a collapsible bag that would be easy to fold and zip up in the folded state. An ideal bag would be designed so that the zipper remains functional despite the wear and tear during the normal use of the bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a collapsible bag that can be folded between its ends or end walls. The bag is equipped with at least one zipper that is fixed to the body of the bag and radiates in a V-shape toward the ends of the bag. As the zipper is closed, it brings together the ends of the bag. Optionally, a zipper continues to run around the perimeter of the end walls of the bag so that the walls form an enclosure containing the body of the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a typical prior art collapsible duffel bag.

FIG. 2 shows how a prior art duffel bag is collapsed.

FIG. 3 shows the first preferred embodiment of the bag with V-shaped zippers on the sidewalls of the bag.

FIG. 4 shows how the bag of the first preferred embodiment is collapsed.

FIGS. 5 a-c show the second preferred embodiment of the bag with a V-shaped zipper that continues around the perimeter of the end walls of the bag.

FIGS. 6 a-b show the detail of the zipper in the second preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a collapsible or foldable soft bag. Although the invention is described in relation to a duffel bag, it is not meant to be so limited. The same design may be applied to any foldable bag that has sides (or side walls) and ends (or end walls), such as a ski bag, a shoe bag, a surf board bag and the like. Any bag that can be flattened and contained between its two ends or end walls will benefit from the present invention.

The bag of the present invention may be made of any suitable foldable fabric or material such as for example, leather, suede, cloth or any synthetic material such as for example, polyester. The bag may take the shape of a cylinder, a rectangular prism or any other shape with side walls and end walls.

The bag has a continuous zipper that allows bringing together the ends or end walls of the bag. The parts of a conventional zipper are referred to as follows. A “zipper track” is one of the two sides of the zipper. A “zipper stop” is the end of the zipper whether the two tracks are brought together and locked or are permanently held together by a separate piece. A “zipper slide” is the movable member operated by hand to open and close the zipper. “Zipper teeth” are the members making up the zipper track and interlocking with the zipper teeth of the opposite zipper track. Zipper teeth are attached to a fabric, which in turn, is attached to the bag.

As shown on FIG. 1, a typical prior art soft duffel bag has sidewalls 1 and end walls 2. The bag may also have various handles, straps, ties, pockets and other accessories, which for convenience and ease of understanding are omitted from the drawings. The interior of the bag is closed via zipper 3 or any other suitable means of closure, such as hooks, snaps, strings, Velcro® straps and the like. On each end wall of the prior art duffel bag is one track of a zipper 4 a and 4 b. As shown on FIG. 2, the bag can be collapsed, flattened and contained between the end walls 2 when zipper 4 is closed.

As shown on FIG. 3, one embodiment of the present invention is a standard duffel bag with sidewalls 1, end walls 2 and a zipper 3. This bag also has a zipper 5. The zipper stop 6 is attached to approximately the midpoint along the sidewall 1 of the bag. The two zipper tracks 5 a and 5 b radiate from the stop 6 toward the end walls 2. The zipper slide 7 is traveling along the zipper 5. The preferred embodiment is shown to have a V-shaped zipper. However, any shape with radiating tracks, such as U-shape is meant to be included in this invention.

As shown on FIG. 4, the end walls 2 of the bag are brought together as zipper 5 is being closed.

In one embodiment, the bag has two zippers, like the one described in relation to FIGS. 3 and 4. The zippers are positioned on the opposite sidewalls of the bag. The bag becomes fully collapsed and flattened when both zippers are closed and the two zipper slides meet near the top of the bag.

In another embodiment, shown on FIGS. 5 a-5 c, the bag has a single zipper. Similar to the embodiment on FIG. 3, the zipper 5 starts and the zipper stop 6 attached near the midpoint of one sidewall 1 of the bag. The zipper tracks 5 a and 5 b radiate towards the end walls 2 of the bag. Once reaching the end walls 2, the zipper tracks 5 a and 5 b continue to run around the entire perimeter of the end walls 2 until each track completes a 540° turn around the bag (as counted from the zipper stop 6). When such turn is completed, the entire bag becomes enclosed in the compartment formed by the zipper 5 and the end walls 2.

FIG. 5 a shows a second preferred embodiment where the zipper 5 is closed for the first 180° from the zipper stop 6. The zipper slide 7 has traveled from the zipper stop 6 to the top of the bag. The remainders of the tracks 5 a and 5 b are still separated. The tracks 5 a and 5 b continue in the open state for approximately another 360° from the position of the zipper slide 7. The sidewalls 1 are already folded between the end walls 2.

FIG. 5 b shows the same embodiment where zipper 5 is closed for the first 360° from the zipper stop 6. The zipper slide 7 has traveled from the zipper stop 6 to the top of the bag, and once around the bag, back to the position near zipper stop 6. Zipper stop 6 is now enclosed internally to the still open portion of zipper 5. The tracks 5 a and 5 b continue in the open state for approximately another 180° from the position of the zipper slide 7. The folded sidewalls 1 and the first 180° turn of the zipper 5 are becoming enclosed by the remainder of the zipper 5. The only portion exposed between end walls 2 is the fabric portion 8 of the zipper to which zipper teeth are attached.

FIG. 5 c shows the same embodiment where the zipper 5 is closed for the entire 540° from the zipper stop 6. The sidewalls of the bag are completely enclosed between the end walls 2.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show a detail of the interrelation of the portions of the track 5 a as it travels 540° around the bag. FIG. 6 a is a reproduction of FIG. 5 a where the zipper 5 is closed for the first 180°. FIG. 6 b is a detail of the left upper corner of the bag of FIG. 6 a as indicated by arrows. The first portion of the track 5 a, labeled 51 a runs from the zipper stop 6 to the edge of the end wall 2 and continues around the perimeter of the end wall 2. Having completed the 360° turn around the bag, the track reemerges as 52 a, the remaining portion of the track. The portion of the track 52 a ends approximately where the portion of the track 51 a reaches the end wall 2. As a result of this arrangement, when the zipper 5 is completely closed, as shown on FIG. 5 c, the entire bag is enclosed in the space formed by the end walls 2 and zipper 5. This enclosure is as tight as the prior art enclosure shown on FIG. 2.

The present invention provides a collapsible bag that can be enclosed between its ends or end walls by virtue of a continuous zipper. Because the zipper stop is permanently attached to the sidewall of the bag, the user is assured that the zipper would be properly aligned and will start every time. Further, the radiating tracks of the zipper have another advantage. As the zipper is being closed, it pulls on the sidewalls of the bag gradually folding them. By the time the closed zipper reaches the end walls, the sidewalls are automatically folded. As the zipper is closed around the perimeter of the end walls, the folded portion of the bag does not get in the way. In contrast, in the prior art, moving the zipper slide around the perimeter of the end walls is not an easy task. Periodically, the user must stop and stuff the bag into the enclosed space forming between the end walls. Because there is no interrelation between the zipper and the sidewalls being stuffed, the fabric of the sidewalls is prone to getting in the way of the zipper and jamming it. By comparison, the user of the present invention can easily close the entire zipper in one smooth motion.

The present invention can be easily closed and stored as a compact flat piece. The end walls of the bag may be rigid. For example, the walls may have rigid inserts or be made of a less flexible or rigid material. The folded bag may also be worn as a bag or a backpack with only a small additional compartment exposed to the outside. For example, a shopper on the way to the store may carry only keys and wallet in such outer compartment. Having made the purchases, the user will unravel the bag and place the goods inside the main body of the bag. Alternatively, the folded bag may be tethered to the inside or the outside of another piece of luggage and unraveled when extra luggage is needed.

While the invention has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various modifications can be made within the scope of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should not be limited by any of the examples described herein but by the claims presented below. 

1. A flexible bag comprising: a body enclosing a space, at least one opening for access into said space, a means of closing said opening, at least one zipper, having zipper tracks and a zipper stop, said zipper stop being attached to a side of said body, and said zipper tracks radiating in non-parallel directions from said zipper stop.
 2. The flexible bag of claim 1, wherein said zipper tracks reach said end walls.
 3. The flexible bag of claim 2, wherein said zipper tracks further encircle said end walls.
 4. The flexible bag of claim 1, wherein said zipper tracks radiate in a V-shape.
 5. The flexible bag of claim 1 further comprising at least one handle.
 6. The flexible bag of claim 1 further comprising at least one strap.
 7. The flexible bag of claim 1 further comprising a top and a bottom.
 8. The flexible bag of claim 1 wherein said end walls further comprise rigid reinforcements.
 9. A flexible bag comprising: a body enclosing a space, the body having two side walls and two end walls, at least one opening for access into said space, the means of closing said opening, a zipper having a zipper stop and zipper tracks, said stop being attached to said side wall; and said tracks radiating from said stop in non-parallel directions to the edges of said end walls and further extending around the perimeter of said end walls.
 10. A flexible bag having a body comprising a space defined by side walls and end walls, at least one opening for access into said space; and a zipper, with zipper tracks originating from said side wall and radiating in non-parallel directions; wherein said zipper is capable of forming an enclosure defined by said end walls. 